Charles Stepney (March 26, 1931May 17, 1976) was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and musician. Stepney is noted for his work with artists such as

The Dells The Dells were an American R&B vocal group. Formed in high school in 1953 by founding members Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, Johnny Funches, Chuck Barksdale, and Michael and Lucius McGill, under the name the El-Rays. They released their first r ...

Ramsey Lewis Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. (May 27, 1935 – September 12, 2022) was an American jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and radio personality. Lewis recorded over 80 albums and received five RIAA certification, gold records and three Grammy Awards ...

Rotary Connection Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966. In addition to their own recordings, including their 1967 debut album '' Rotary Connection'', the band backed Muddy Waters on his 1968 psychedelic blues album ...

and

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as EW&F or EWF) is an American band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling ba ...

Career

He started his musical career as a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

musician and

vibraphone The vibraphone (also called the vibraharp) is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using Percussion mallet, mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone ...

player, and began work for

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock an ...

as a musician and

arranger In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestrat ...

. In 1966, Charles Stepney and

Marshall Chess Marshall Chess (born March 13, 1942) is an American record producer, the son of Leonard Chess who co-founded Chess Records. Chess Records Marshall worked for sixteen years with Chess Records; founded by his father Leonard and his uncle Phil. He ...

, son of Chess Records' co-founder

Leonard Chess Leonard Samuel Chess (born Lejzor Szmuel Czyż; March 12, 1917 – October 16, 1969) was a Polish-American record company executive and the founder of Chess Records alongside his brother Phil. He was influential in the development of the recor ...

, established a new soul rock band called the

. Stepney was eventually appointed as the band's producer, to appear on Chess' subsidiary label

Cadet Records Cadet Records was an American record label that began as Argo Records in 1955 as the jazz subsidiary of Chess Records. Argo changed its name in 1965 to Cadet to avoid confusion with the similarly named label in the UK. Cadet stopped releasing ...

. He went on to produce their 1967 self titled debut album and ''Aladdin'', their 1968 follow up release. As well as 1968's ''Peace'' and their 1969 album ''Songs''. He also produced the group's 1970 album ''Dinner Music'' and 1971 LP ''Hey Love''. Paul Bowler of

Record Collector ''Record Collector'' is a British monthly music magazine focussing on rare and collectable records, and the bands who recorded them. It was founded in September 1979 and distributes worldwide. It is promoted as "the world’s leading authority o ...

proclaimed, "The six albums that Rotary Connection recorded under Stepney's guidance proved revolutionary; a glorious fusion of styles made essential by the simpatico nature of Stepney's lush string arrangements and innieRiperton's multi-octave, quasi-operatic vocals." Stepney went on to produce Rotary Connection lead singer

Minnie Riperton Minnie Julia Riperton (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979) was an American soul singer and songwriter best known for her 1974 single " Lovin' You", her five-octave vocal range, and her use of the whistle register. Born in 1947, Riperton grew ...

's 1970 debut album ''Come to My Garden''. In a November 1970 interview with Downbeat Magazine, Stepney exclaimed Minnie "has a soprano range of about four octaves, a whole lot of soul, she's good-looking and she's got the experience of Rotary behind her." What's more he produced soul group

on their 1968 album There Is, 1969 release ''Love is Blue'' and their 1971 LPs ''Like It Is'', ''Like It Was'', and ''Freedom Means''. Stepney also produced

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

musician

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who was an important figure in the post-World War II blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of moder ...

' 1968 album ''Electric Mud'' and his 1969 release ''After the Rain''. As well

Howlin' Wolf Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. He was at the forefront of transforming acoustic Delta blues into electric Chica ...

's 1969 LP ''The Howlin' Wolf Album'' and

Marlena Shaw Marlina Burgess (September 22, 1939 – January 19, 2024), professionally known by her stage name Marlena Shaw, was an American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and continued to perform until her death. Her music has often been ...

's 1969 album ''The Spice of Life''. Along with

Phil Upchurch Phillip Upchurch (born July 19, 1941) is an American soul music, R&B, jazz and blues guitarist and bassist. Career Upchurch started his career working with the Kool Gents, the Dells, and the Spaniels, before going on to work with Curtis Mayfiel ...

's 1969 album ''Upchurch'' and 1970 LP ''The Way I Feel''. Stepney later produced

Terry Callier Terrence Orlando "Terry" Callier (May 24, 1945 – October 27, 2012) was an American soul music, soul, Folk music, folk and jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter. Life and career Callier was born in the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and was ...

on his albums ''Occasional Rain'' (1972), ''What Color Is Love'' (1973) and ''I Just Can't Help Myself'' (1974). Stepney began to collaborate with

as a producer on his 1968 LP ''Maiden Voyage''. The album included the song "

Les Fleur "Les Fleur" (also known as "Les Fleurs") () is a song by American singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton, released as the opening song of her 1970 debut studio album '' Come to My Garden''. Background and recording "Les Fleurs" was written by Charl ...

" written by Stepney and later recorded by Riperton in 1970. He also arranged on the Trio's 1968 album ''Mother Nature's Son'' and 1969 LP ''Another Voyage'', and co-produced the 1970 album ''The Piano Player''. With the Trio was a young drummer named

Maurice White Maurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey. ...

who previously worked as a session musician at Chess Records. White went on to found and lead a new band called

. Stepney eventually worked as an associate producer on the band's 1974 album ''Open Our Eyes''. He then performed on

's 1974 album ''Sun Goddess'' and produced his 1975 LP ''Don't It Feel Good''. Stepney also coproduced with Maurice, Earth, Wind & Fire's 1975 albums ''That's the Way of the World'' and ''Gratitude''. Thereafter with White he started producing EWF's 1976 album ''Spirit'', Ramsey Lewis's 1976 LP '' Salongo'',

The Emotions The Emotions are an American soul/ R&B vocal group from Chicago. The group started out in gospel music but transitioned into R&B and disco music. The Emotions were named by VH1 as one of the 18 most influential girl groups of all time. Hist ...

1976 album ''Flowers'' and

Deniece Williams June Deniece Williams (née Chandler; born June 3, 1950) is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great Soul music, soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs "Free (Deniece Williams song), Free", "Silly (song ...

's 1976 LP ''This Is Niecy''.

Death

On the morning of 17 May 1976,

’s

spoke with Stepney about a new song the band had written in tribute to Stepney, titled " Spirit". Stepney died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

later that day.

Influence and legacy

Artists such as

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

4hero 4hero (sometimes referred to as 4 Hero or 4-Hero) are an electronic music group from Dollis Hill, London, comprising producers Mark "Marc Mac" Clair & Denis "Dego" McFarlane. 4hero are known for being pioneers of breakbeat hardcore, jungle/drum ...

Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick Jean-Paul Maunick (born 19 February 1957, Mauritius), known by his stage name Bluey is a British guitarist, bandleader, composer and record producer. He has led the British acid jazz band Incognito since its formation in 1979. With Incognito, ...

Zero 7 Zero 7 is an English musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. Both of them began as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, '' Simple Things'', was released in 2001; their song "Destiny" stayed in ...

, and

have been influenced by Stepney.

Personal life

Stepney was survived by his wife Rubie and three daughters Eibur, Charlene and Chante.

Discography

As performer in
Rotary Connection Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966. In addition to their own recordings, including their 1967 debut album '' Rotary Connection'', the band backed Muddy Waters on his 1968 psychedelic blues album ...

*''

'' (

Cadet A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, including civil aviation groups, maritime ...

, 1967) *''

Aladdin Aladdin ( ; , , ATU 561, 'Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale. It is one of the best-known tales associated with '' One Thousand and One Nights'' (often known in English as ''The Arabian Nights''), despite not being part of the original ...

'' (Cadet, 1968) *''

Peace Peace is a state of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence, and everything that discusses achieving human welfare through justice and peaceful conditions. In a societal sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (suc ...

'' (Cadet, 1968) *'' Hey, Love'' (Cadet, 1971)

As sideman

With

Bunky Green Vernice "Bunky" Green Jr (April 23, 1933 – March 1, 2025) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and educator. Life and career Green was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he played the alto saxophone, mainly at a local club called "The Br ...

*'' Playin' for Keeps'' (Cadet, 1966) With

Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...

*'' Jazz for "Breakfast at Tiffany's"'' (

Vee-Jay Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. The label was founded in Gary, Indiana, in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a ...

, 1961) *'' For Bird and Bags'' (

Exodus Exodus or the Exodus may refer to: Religion * Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible * The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan Historical events * Ex ...

, 1963) With

*'' Back to the Roots'' (Cadet, 1971) *'' Sun Goddess'' ( Columbia, 1974) With

*''

Electric Mud ''Electric Mud'' is the fifth studio album by Muddy Waters, with members of Rotary Connection playing as his backing band. Released in 1968, it presents Muddy Waters as a psychedelic music, psychedelic musician. Producer Marshall Chess suggested ...

'' (Cadet Concept, 1968)

As arranger

With

*'' Plug Me In'' (

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...

, 1968) With

*'' Maiden Voyage'' (Cadet, 1968) *''

Mother Nature's Son "Mother Nature's Son" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album ''The Beatles'' (also known as "the White Album"). The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney, and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was ins ...

'' (Cadet, 1968) With

*'' Come to My Garden'' ( GRT, 1970) With

*''Rotary Connection'' (Cadet, 1968) *''Aladdin'' (Cadet, 1968) *''Peace'' (Cadet, 1968) *'' Dinner Music'' (Cadet, 1970) *''Hey, Love'' (Cadet, 1971)

References

External links

Charles Stepney
- Interrupted Genius a

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stepney, Charles 1931 births 1976 deaths African-American male composers African-American musicians African-American record producers African-American songwriters Musicians from Chicago Record producers from Illinois 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American male musicians Rotary Connection members